Ejection opening cover for firearms



Feb. 15, 1944. R GANS 2,341,767

EJEC'I'ION OPENING COVER FOR FIREARMS Filed Dec. 8, 1942 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 15, 1944 UNITE srrss PATENT orrlcs EJECTION OPENING oovER FOR FIREARMS Geor e R. Gans, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application December 8, 1942, Serial No. 468,188

1 Claim.

My invention relates to new and improved mechanism for controlling the position of the breech cover in breech-loading firearms.

While the invention applies to every type of firearm whose breech is open when the action of the firearm is cocked, it applies particularly to automatic and semi-automatic firearms.

The important object of my invention is to' provide a breech cover which will be automatical- 1y moved into operative position, in order completely to cover the ejector Window of the firearm and to protect the mechanism of the firearm from sand, mud, etc., While the hammer or trigger of the firearm is cooked, and while the breech of the firearm is open, prior to firing the gun.

The invention is illustrated specifically in connection with the Johnson type of machine gun which is used by the U. S. Marine Corps. This type of gun has a clip, and the spent cartridge is ejected during the rearward movement of the bolt. In this type of gun, the barrel moves backward with the bolt, during the recoil stroke, for a distance of about 0.375 inch. However, the invention applies to any kind of fully automatic or semi-automatic machine gun, including the type in which the barrel remains fixed, and the type in which the barrel has a long recoil stroke. It also includes automatic guns of the gas-operated type.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the annexed description and drawing, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation which shows the essential parts of the invention in their respective positions, when the gun is cooked and ready to fire.

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1, showing the positions of the essential parts in firing position, and showing the bolt in its forward firing position.

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2, showing the bolt intermediate the beginning and end of its recoiling movement, and before the bolt completely clears the window, which the bolt does at the end of its recoiling movement. During said recoiling movement, the bolt extracts the empty cartridge case, by means of any conventional extractor. Fig. 3 shows how the breech cover is held open during said recoiling movement. During said recoiling movement, the empty cartridge case is ejected through the window, by means of the well-known ejecting mechanism.

The improved combination comprises the breech cover or breech slide a which is longitudinally slidable on the breech, either internally or externally. This breech cover or slide a is movable to the respective positions shown in Fig. 1

and Fig. 2, in which said breech slide or cover a respectively closes or opens the ejector window I). The breech cover exposes or clears the ejector window b in the forward position of said breech cover a which is shown in Fig. 2. The empty cartridge case can be ejected through the window 22, while said window is thus exposed or cleared.

One end of a spring 0 is fixed to the sliding breech cover a and the other end of said spring 0 is fixed to the frame of the gun, so that said spring 0 biases the breech cover a to the normal closing position of Fig. 1.

The latch d is pivotally connected by pivot pin e to the frame of the gun. This latch d is biased by the spring f to the holding position shown in Fig. 2. In this position, said breech cover a is held so as to expose the window b.

The rear end of the pivoted latch d abuts a pin m of the sear g.

Hence, when the sear g holds the bolt h in its cocked position which is shown in Fig. 1, the latch d is held by the sear 9 against the spring I in the position of Fig. 1. The breech cover a is then released from said latch, so that said breech cover a then closes the window b.

The bolt h is forwardly biased by the usual bolt-spring n. g

Fig. 2 shows how the latch 11 holds the breech cover a in its forward position. To fire the gun, the sear g is turned downwardly from the position of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 2. The bolt 72. is thus released to be moved forwardly by spring n, thus firing the cartridge and pushing the breech cover a, to its forward position, in which said breech cover is held as long as sear g remains depressed. In the Johnson gun, the firing pin is connected to the bolt, and the forward movement of the bolt releases the firing hammer.

While the bolt 72 recoils from its forward position of Fig. 2, in which said bolt it closes the window I). the empty cartridge case is ejectedthrough window I), when the rearwardly moving bolt clears said window. In the "Johnson gun, an extractor is pivoted to the bolt, and said extractor is automatically operated during the recoil movement. When the bolt clears the window, an abutment of the frame then ejects the cartridge through said window.

As long as the sear g is held in the firing position of Fig. 2, the breech cover a will be held by the latch d in its forward and open position after said breech cover has been moved initially to said position, and the rapidly reciprocating bolt h, of the automatic firearm will alternately close and open the window I). When it is desired to stop the firing, the sear g is moved back to the position of Fig. 1, thus holding bolt h in the cocked position of Fig. 1, and releasing the latch d from the breech cover a, so that the biasing spring 0 moves the breech cover a automatically to close the window b. The sear engages a recess r of the bolt h. Insaid Johnson gun, the bolt h has a cooking handle 0, which is located slidably in a slot of thebreech. This handle 0 or any suitable projection, pushes the breech cover a forwardly, so that said breech cover can be slidably and externally located on the breech.

I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from its scope.

I claim:

A breech-loading firearm action comprising a, part which has an ejecting window, a cover movable to a first position in which said cover closes said window, said cover being also movable to a second position in which said cover exposes said window, said cover being biased to said first position, a bolt which is biased to move said cover to said second position, a scar for controlling said bolt, a latch which is biased to an operative position in which said latch holds said cover in said second position, connecting means connecting said latch to the sear, said connecting means holding said latch in inoperative position when said action is cooked.

GEORGE R. GANS. 

